Mark your calendars for the next quarterly meeting of Chicago BTA being held on December 3^rd (Wednesday) from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hotel Allegro located at 171 West Randolph in Chicago. The event will be a combination of recognition, education and celebration. 
 

The recognition will include the outgoing and newly elected Board Officers, along with the Chicago BTA scholarship winners for 2008-2009. The education will include a presentation by Anna Post, the great-great granddaughter of Emily Post, on “Business Etiquette.” The celebration will include sharing time with friends and business associates and raising money for a very good cause.

Special thanks to our meeting sponsors:
Platinum:  Hotel Allegro
Platinum:  Korean Air
Platinum:  Boston Coach
Gold:       Concur
Silver:     Air Plus International

Agenda:

3:30 - 4:15 p.m.    Registration and Networking with light refreshments

Anna Post is Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter and an author and spokesperson for The Emily Post Institute.  Giving advice on modern etiquette dilemmas is Anna’s specialty.  She is a popular source for media outlets such as USA Today, The New York Times, the Associated Press, Weekend Today, Fox & Friends, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Forbes.com, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Real Simple.   Anna also produces The Emily Post Institute’s podcast series, including Peter Post’s business podcast “Etiquette at Work.”

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.    Final Bids for Charity Auction
Light hors d'oeuvres and dessert with full bar provided by Hotel Allegro  

7:00 - 7:30 p.m.    Auction Closes/Winners Announced, Holiday Celebration & Networking

Silent Auction/Raffle:  In 2007, we raised over $10,000 for the Fairygodmother Foundation.  As was announced at the Q3 meeting, Chicago BTA is proud to support the Walter & Connie Payton Foundation's Annual Holiday Giving Program as our partner for this year's charity event.  We hope to see members of the Payton family at our meeting.

The Holiday Giving Program helps provide gifts for in-need children during the holidays.  In 2007, the WCPF provided for approximately 20,000 children.  Chicago BTA can have a positive impact on the children this year through our toy drive, raffle and silent auction.  100% of the proceeds of the auction and raffle will be donated to The Walter & Connie Payton Foundation to support their Holiday Giving Program.  For more information on the WCPF, please visit their website at www.http://payton34.com

We invite you to help us make this festive and exciting event more special by donating an item to our silent auction and raffle.  Your company will be acknolwedged at the event through our auction display and signage.  An event donation form can be obtained by contacting Christine Duffey, Charity Committee Co-Chair, at cduffy@hyatt.com or (312) 528-8182.  All silent auction and raffle items must be received no later than November 28, 2008 (Friday).

Toy Drive:  Attendees are asked to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the WCPF's Holiday Giving Program that helps provide gifts for in-need children during the holidays.  In addition to toys for younger children, the WCPF welcomes gift cards for their teenage recipients (i.e. Target, WalMart, etc.).  Those bringing a contribution to the toy drive will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win great prizes.  Additional raffle tickets will also be for sale.

We look forward to seeing you on December 3rd!

Guy Parker, Chairman, Education Committee
Debi Cretacci, Chair, Charity Committee
Suzy Cerra, Chair, Sponsorship Committee
Chicago Business Travel Association